Amelia
"Princess hurry!" Blaze yelled and I rushed to melt a hole through this thick ice pillar I made but trying to fire bend with water touching me was very confusing.
"Focus on breathing!" Blaze yelled in my ear and my small flame stopped and I started to water bend again.
I dry my hands on my short shorts and I place my hands on the pillar and it. My body shivered as I stood in the snow but then I tried to regulate the weak heat in my body to keep myself from turning into a popsicle.
"F-Fuck." I say to myself and then Blaze walks over and leans on the pillar and I touch the ice but then she smacks my hands away.
"Are you trying to freeze?"
"N-No." I shake in the snow in my shorts and small top and she laughs and moves closer to me, and I was thankful because she felt so warm.
"You have to focus. That's what controlling fire is all about and if you can't control it then how are you ever going to get to lightning."
"I-I-I don't know." I shiver and I move closer to Blaze, and she steps back.
"Haha, you have the powers to create warmth! Do it."
"It's hard t-t-to focus when you are frozen." I say and I close my eyes and I let the flames float around my body and then my shaking body finally stopped.
"Great! Now burn a hole!" Blaze points at and I touch the wet pillar and I focus hard.
"Go! Go!" Blaze says and I shut my eyes and I felt heat rush and my hands started to run through the ice and water trickles down my arms, confusing me to bend it but I ignore it and let it run past me.
I stopped feeling ice and I open my eyes to see that my hand was through it.
"I did it!" I cheer and Blaze claps her hands and then she grabs my arms and flies in the air, and I freak out.
"Nice! Now fly!" she lets me go in midair and I start descending fast to the ground but then I get caught by someone who was watching far away.
"Thanks. I expected that." I say.
"Yeah… she does that a lot." Silver says and sets me down and Blaze groans.
"I said you can watch… not intervene. She almost flew that time!" Blaze says and Silver laughs.
"Next time I'll just watch." He says and shoves Blaze a little and I smile as I watch them shove each other back and forth while we walked back to the castle.
"About time!" Cream yelled and she had on her water bending combat uniform on.
"Sorry, it was taking me a moment to melt that ice." I rush in and I water bend the water from me but then I remember that I could keep myself warm with my own heat, so I resort to that."
"Your clothes are on your bed." Rouge says appearing on the other side of the door.
"Thanks. Have everyone ready once I come back." I say and Rouge starts calling all our friends together while I ran up the stairs and I rush towards my room.
"Would you like a water, Princess?" says my maid who was waiting on me.
"No thanks! Trying to focus on fire!" I say and I rush into my room, and I throw my hair tie out of my hair and I take off my clothes and start putting on undergarments and then I run over to my royal clothes.
It was a deep blue long sleeve with a gold corseted-top and then I also had blue pants that matched the sleeves. I slip on some gold boots and then I ran into the mirror and looked at myself.
"Yeah… my mother would be so angry at me." I say as I grab my crown and place it gently on my head as my hair hung low under my ears.
I stare nervously at the girl who had done probably the most illegal actions in the kingdom, but I was somewhat not put in jail because I was the princess.
That made my people angry. It brought back the main reason why we changed the name of our kingdom to "water kingdom" to "Asendel" to show that we were all equal.
If a normal citizen would have done what I did. They would be questioned and probably jailed but because of my title I am still allowed to walk around the kingdom.
That's not staying true to our word.
I walk off from the mirror and rush out my room and then I ran downstairs to see my friends talking to each other and then it got quiet once I entered.
"Nervous?" Axel asks and I shrug my arms and then point at my hair.
"Yeah. I cut my hair off and I look like a rebel which is not a great look to show the council." I say and Rouge rubs her hand through my hair and adjusts my crown.
"Well, all you have left to do is just to face this. We all have too so you won't be alone."
"Tch. And why are we getting dragged along with this." Shadow says as he adjusts his sweater and folds his arms.
"Well, don't you want to see Maria out of prison." I say and walk up to him, and he blushes.
"That's her fault for following Sally…" Shadow says and walks off and I was about to throw my crown at him, but Silver laughs and pats my head.
"He misses her. We all know that. Also… don't worry. We went over what to say to the council once you get there so it should run smoothly."
I nod my head slowly and I look at Blaze who was always nervous when she was inside the kingdom.
"They are going to want to handcuff Blaze too once we walk out of the kingdom. "I whisper and Silver looks over at her who was tapping her foot nervously.
"Understandable but don't worry about. I'll "keep her in control". Or Whatever you're the King said to do." Silver jokes and he walks over to Blaze who seemed relieved but still cautious of her surroundings.
She was technically turning herself in to the enemy once again.
"Let's go." I say and we start to walk out of the castle, but we were bombarded by many citizens and guards who were against this as well.
"Princess! You are working with a criminal!" yelled a citizen and my ears fell flat as my royal guards escorted us towards the courtroom.
"Trader!"
"Princess is being just as the queen!"
The multiple opinions and yelling were overwhelming and even to have my citizens go against me this way was heartbreaking, but I held all of this.
"Fire kingdom scum!" someone yelled, and I felt liquid splash on my face but was just droplets.
"Ahh!" Blaze yells and I turn around to see Blaze soaked and then flames kicked out of her mouth with full rage. Blaze jumped at the crowd and then Silver held her back and I ran forward but my guards moved in front of me as the Silver and the royal guards tried to detain her.
"Stop!" I yell and get dragged away. "Silver!"
Silver grabbed her and flew in the air and Blaze was fuming with smoke and I even saw that she had handcuffs on now.
"I got her- "
My earthbenders threw rocks and Silver dodged it until one of our own personal fire benders flew at them and grabbed her foot.
"Hey! Let go!" Silver says and I freak out as I watch everyone try to fight Blaze.
"Guards! Let me go!" I yell at them and one of them fully picked me up and sprinted.
"I can't! We let you go last time, and I won't see you hurt again!" said one of my guards and that's when I relax.
"Remember. If anything happens then you can't do anything until you explain yourself. Even if they try to mob us… I'll protect anyone who needs it. They trust me but not the fire benders. Don't worry. Get their named cleared so they can be safe."
Silver voice rang in my head, and I let my guards rush me into the court room where there were more people and then they place me safety inside and I waited my friends to come in.
Rouge and Cream barge in with Axel and Shadow was with Silver as they flew in too and Blaze was dripping with a brown liquid on her face and hair.
"Relax!" Rouge says and gets it off of her, but Blaze looked close to tears and was frightened.
"It's fine. I told you I'd watch over you." Silver says and Blaze nods her head but then she looks at me.
"I-I'm sorry." I murmur and everyone looks at me and I wipe a tear.
"Well, it was expected to happen so don't be." Blaze said spitefully and I nod my head and turn around and I start to walk in and then my guards open the doors for me.
My father was sitting at the front and so was the council with extra guards surrounded around them and then my eyes move fast to find my friends.
Knuckles, Tails, Maria and Cass were chained and tied up to seats where I would stand beside them, and I walked a little faster to them and I look at them.
"Princess!" Cass yelled and he was the most tied up and had more guards around him as he jumped up in the air. "You look splendid- "
"Quiet! That's not how you greet her!" says a guard and Cass eyes moved to his and the smile on his face he had dropped quickly.
"Cass… calm it." Knuckles says and Cass scoffs and then sits back down.
I walked to them, and I instantly hug Knuckles who I had not seen in a few days.
"Are you alright? They fed you like I said, right?"
"Yeah... we are fine. The beds suck but we are doing well." He says and I laugh a bit and then they pull him back as when he started to laugh.
"There is no need for all of you guarding them like this." I say and they slightly step away.
"There is." A voice says and I turn around to see the leader of the council glaring at me.
"Elora… how are things. I heard you said so much great comments about me leaving." I say and I look at Tails.
"How is your leg?" I say.
"Cream healed me pretty well." He says and I nod my head and hug him as well and then I went to Maria.
"Maria- "
"P-P-PRINCESS!" Maria cried out. "The jail cells are so cold and dirty! I haven't showered in so long and the food is disgusting! WAAA!"
"I know… they didn't give the blankets I told them to do?" I say and I pat her head and I take out some dirt and she sniff her nose.
"No! They gave me only two thin blankets, but I was freezing."
"I'm sorry. But I will get you all out of here." I say and I turn back to Elora and the council behind her.
The council was created after my mother's death and the citizens thought my father would need more help with decisions of the council while he was grieving but now that I have come to age to take over the throne as queen, the council has been more against me lately.
"Let's begin." Elora says and moves past the guards and walks over to me with my prisoner friends.
"Princess Amelia. Before we begin, I am grateful for your return. But not too greatful from who I see you brought with you." She says and looks at Cass first.
"Cass. An accomplice with the mysterious group that included Maria, and two others who did not make it out of the 'spirit world' but before took lives, stole from smaller villages and is against Asendel and all of its beliefs." Elora walks closer to Cass, and she touches his red hair, making me nervous for her because Cass didn't do well with new people.
She thumps his head and Cass leaps at her with all my royal guards pulling him down to the ground and he puffs angrily.
"Cass, stop!" I yell and he was barely looking at me because his eyes were stuck on Elora.
I walked over and my guards stood in the way and Cass notices that I was trying to calm him down he switches moods fast.
"And… an important fact is that he is very violent when near anyone. Who knows what would happen if he even rubbed against someone in a crowd or if someone accidentally stepped on his foot? I can tell you it looked like he was about to rip me in half for thumping his head so lightly so there is no telling what he would do." Elora stares down at Cass who glares at her and then her eyes moved to Maria
"Maria… also a partner of Cass but also murderer of her own village. The Princess express that she did it for self-protection, but I see nothing but a coward who would do anything to get what she wants." Elora bent down to Maria who was trying to remain calm but everything Elora was saying is going to determine her survival.
"They said you threatened the Princess just like Cass did. Is that true?"
Maria opened her mouth slowly.
"I did… but never again because- "
"Because she saved you. You have bed and somewhere to stay because you knew you were going to lose." Elora says. "That makes you a guaranteed trader as soon as anyone gives you the chance to do so."
Elora walked off and she went to Knuckles who was allowed to stand.
"Knuckles of the fire kingdom… second in command to the Prince of the Fire king and possibly very close to king too."
"I was. But now that all of my friends have been shunned then I am just Knuckles from the fire kingdom."
"I see. All of you are refugees from your homes but for you. You aren't much of a threat, but you still had pride and love for the fire kingdom that wanted to kill the princess when she was in jail but… when asked to save her you helped her… would you have done if the prince would have asked you?"
Knuckles was quiet for a moment but then spoke.
"The fire kingdom is a brainwashing world. We knew nothing but to protect our kingdom and the ones we cared about. Everyone else was shown as a threat but… growing up and thinking outside of what the schools told you, you learn that there is no reason for the war and fighting. The killings. There is no reason and the prince taught me that myself so if I was still there and I saw that the Princess or anyone needed help. Then I would. "
Elora smiled and folded your arms and then she walked over to Tails.
"Then if you saw Tails… about to hurt the Princess and your 'best friend' the prince then why didn't you stop them. You said exactly how you felt but that did not happen."
"Tails of the fire kingdom… possibly still angry at the both of you for getting Cosmo killed." Elora sighs and shakes her head. "Rest in peace, Cosmo that your life had to be taken away. I mean at least I know that Tails could fit in because he isn't as sketchy as the rest of the fire benders, but he does also want the Princess dead."
Elora rewinds to Knuckles and points at Tails. "If he tried to harm her again, would you stop him? Or watch like you did last time?"
"I… I couldn't intervene because it was Agni Kai. I told you- "
"You told me bullshit. That's all I heard and knowing that you are still such a follower to the fire kingdom law then why should we let you in? You have favorites. And possibly a coward as well! Just like Maria." Elora says and Knuckles glared at her.
"And Tails. You barely said anything to me when I tried to get information out of you. "Elora says and Tails kept his head down.
"All I sense if fear and hostility from you. And that is the worst to have when meeting someone who has a hold on how your life is after all of this. So, I still need you to answer these questions, so no one thinks you are going to harm the kingdom." Elora adds and Tails looked at her.
"Would you take the life of the Princess so Sonic can feel the same pain you felt?"
"No… I wouldn't. I was… I was angry back then but no. Cosmo… she wouldn't want me to harm anyone for her. And I apoligzed to the Princess… I-I-I would never do that again." Tails mutters and I could tell he was upset, and Elora sighs and then turns around.
"Not a good look? He is still hurt over Cosmo and would probably take out the Princess if he had a slimmer of a chance if he were to get this upset again." Elora pointed out and then she walked back into the middle of the court room.
"And in fact, your highness, these are all the facts and details everyone single person here, has told us. Every fact. And every detail. "She says and I watch her turn to the council.
"It is a shame of how we must treat them because this is not the way the queen would treat them but since they have already hurt out citizens, endangered our princess, and causing chaos in our homes… then why would we set fire to already a burned home?" She says and then turns to me.
"The princess of course doesn't care about the safety of the children and families of the Asendel. You see she brought six dangerous people into our home. Six. Anything that comes from her should not be taken lightly and I would also expect a plan from her and her friends since she is so sneaky to lie to her own kingdom to sneak out of it." She says and I ball my fist.
"Did your father even tell you how we almost went into war with the fire kingdom? We were that desperate to find out what happened to you but only to find out that all of this was because of your self-fish decisions."
Elora words were true, and my father and I both knew it was.
"Thank you, your highness." Elora makes her way to the side of the room and then the attention is turned towards me.
"Amelia, after Elora relaying all of these events. You are still wanting them to stay and free three of your friends that have harmed you?"
I look over at them and they looked back at me.
"Yes."
"But why… the yellow fox left you to die in forest. If it wasn't for two random air benders you would have been long gone and the world would have been in terror. Do you understand that? And you want him to live here? Under your watch?"
"Yes."
My father shook his head and then looked over to Cass and Maria." And these two…. Killed people. Multiple. And you want them to serve time and then possible be let to live a life here in Asendel?"
"I… yes- "
"Amelia!" My father voice echoed over the entire room, and I tried to keep my eye contact with him. "Your mother… would never allow this. Everything you are asking is not looking good on you being queen or even being in our kingdom. How can I let this pass without being able to trust my own daughter?"
"Time."
"Time?" Elora spoke up and she walked over to my father. "Your highness, time the worst option to give her. Giving her time so Cass can burn our kingdom down? Time for Maria to destroy homes? Or time for Tails to attack random citizens with lightning?! Time is what is going to get everyone in danger and if we already don't trust the princess then why would we give her time!"
The king takes in what Elora says, and I squeezed my hand.
"Amelia, what if I were to give you time? What can time do that time has not already happened?"
I look over at my friends behind me and beside me and I step forward.
"I know… I am untrustworthy. I lied to my entire kingdom. Everyone but only to protect you all… and then I lost control of trying to protect you all… and learning about myself and the world I had never seen… I did become friends with my enemies and yes… some of them that stand before have done terrible things but… they changed." I say and I touch my short hair. "I've changed. We can't control change. And what I've learned since I left is that when you can't control what's happening, you need to challenge yourself to control the way you respond to it… Elora, is saying she is on the side of the kingdom but all I see is fear- "
"Of course, I have fear! The only reason you are not behind bars is because you are the Princess!" Elora yells and I let her. "I'm afraid of letting that evil man and woman into our kingdom and destroying everything! You are saying we can't control change, but we can by- "
"You can't control it!" I say back. "These people are just like us! Just like my mother! Different! From places that aren't so great so kicking them out and letting them fend on their own during this harsh winter would still change all of us! We would be risking their lives!" I say.
"You haven't had to kill someone Elora!" I say and she stares at me. "I've killed someone just like they did! No matter what the reason is I killed someone! My mom killed someone! Everyone has to change to save something or someone or themselves because of how our lives are! And since you continue to say my mother would be disappointed and then she would be disappointed at you all too for not giving them a chance! Elora you aren't even a water bender! You bend air!"
Elora stood there and I walk closer to her.
"My mother saved your family long ago… if she didn't then you probably would have ended up like Maria too… the world is changing constantly… but how you react to it. Gives you the power to control it. That's what Asendel is… we cannot be afraid of change here." I say and I look around at everyone and even my guards.
"We are all different but the same. Just different powers and stories. Yes… Cass and Maria are dangerous and yes Tails could have killed me but… that's not the purpose here anymore. Asendel…is meant for anyone who wants to change… anyone. I'm also not saying look over their actions and I'm not saying look over mine but after everything. They are trying to change as well." I say.
"That's all I have to say, father and the council." I walked back over to my friends and Silver patted my back and I nodded my head, but my father's face had not changed one bit after.
"Even after finding out that one of them killed Cosmo… you are still fighting for them to stay and gain some citizenship."
"Yes…" I say.
The room becomes silent, and my father rubbed his face and then he stood.
"As the king of Asendel… I hold a responsibility to protect the kingdom." He starts and I nod my head. "We are about change and differentially, but criminals are something I am not sure we can turn too. Not so soon."
My father peers to Knuckles first and then he clears his throat. "Knuckles from the fire kingdom."
"Yes, your highness." Knuckles was still respectful as ever even though my father was about to decide what he could do with his life.
"You have shown through your stories…dignity and humbleness. And in your stories and everyone else's… you protected my daughter through her journey." He says and we all wait to hear his fate.
"You have been cleared to stay in Asendel for as long as you like."
"Yes. Thank Chaos."
"Thank you, your highness." Knuckles says and they uncuff him and he stands up and walks over to us and I smile at him but then I look at Tails who was looking at the ground.
"Tails from the fire kingdom." My father says and I closed my eyes for this one.
"Your majesty." Tails muttered.
"You gave Cosmo a great life before the end of it. I respect that all the way for you even you, being a fire kingdom citizen, to see that even knowing she was a spy you still cared for her, and her last days were filled with joy… but. Your days afterwards were filled with rage, and you shot my daughter three times because of jealously."
Tails sniffs and he held his head down as he cried to himself.
"I'm sorry. I was angry because the prince let her stay there and he killed Cosmo. I'm still not over it but… my anger towards the princess is over. I never meant what I did. I was angry for them hurting someone just because they were slightly different." Tails says and he shakes his head. "I am… far done with the fire kingdom your highness."
"I see." He says and then thinks for a moment. "But still… knowing that you have harmed the princess. I am placing you under two months of self-help classes and you are not to step foot in the kingdom until I feel you have proved yourself."
Tails gasped and he nodded his head. "Thank you."
They uncuffed Tails and he practically ran towards us, and they brought him into a hug and me and him make eye contact and I smile at him and then I face back forward.
"Maria, your fate had been decided- "
"Wait!" she interrupts and tries to stand but they force her back down. "No, let me speak!"
"Let her." He says and she stands again.
"I saved them!" She points at us." You wouldn't be seeing your daughter if it wasn't meant for me! I was on the wrong side until I met her, and the princess is a good princess! Don't listen to Elmora- "
"Elora!" Elora says back.
"Yeah, whatever but the point is that I have shown that I am willing to change and live a peaceful life! Don't compare me to Cass here! This shithead is the one that's crazy and I am ready to start anew in Asendel!"
"Idiot." Shadow whispers to himself.
"We are not allowing you into the kingdom." He says and my eyes widen, and I look at her and she looks at me.
"Wait… no! Where am I going to go!" she yells.
"Father. Just wait. She has nowhere to go." I say and Maria starts to cry loudly again and then I feel Shadow push beside me.
"That's his decision. She cannot stay." Shadow says and I grab his sweater.
"Shadow stop! She would not survive three seconds on her own! I say and he removes my fist from his sweater.
"The people of Lera will take her in." Shadow says and everyone looks at him and he looks at us. "What? She was not going to leave Asendel even if you threw her out so we will take her."
"What?"
"Shadow did you hit your head?"
"I didn't even know he could be nice- "
"Shut up before I change my damn mind." He says and he folds his arms and walks over to Maria who was looking up at him.
"I only request a few days for her to not be locked up in prison and left under the care of me." He says and he turns to the king.
"Fine." The king says. "But only a few days."
"Thank you, sir." He says and bows and then he takes the chains away from the guards and brings her over and she gasps.
"Shadow… thank you- "
"Shut up. I'm only doing this to pay you back for saving my ass. That's it." He says and Maria blushes and yanks at her chains, alarming others.
"You jerk! I rather freeze outside than to be with you!"
"Fine." Shadow lets go of the chains and she gasps and hands him them back.
"No! You were supposed to convince me to stay!" Maria yells and Shadow was starting to regret his decision but then Silver jumps in.
"He didn't mean that! Settle down." He says and Maria puffs and folds her arms and then I sigh stressfully as there is one person left.
Cass was breathing heavily and most of guards were around him because I know he was causing trouble everywhere he went.
"It's my turn!" Cass says and stands up and the guards try to push him back down, but Cass was fully healed and looked stronger than he was last time. "Your highness! I want to take your daughter's hand in marriage!"
My jaw dropped and my father looked at Cass for a moment and then to me.
"This is what you want in the kingdom."
"Well, I told you I was not very sure about Cass, but he listens to me!" I say.
"Amelia, he not well."
"But he saved us! Cass realized very late that he was wrong for what he did. He still… threatens people and I agree that is terrible, but we cannot let him out there on his own. He is too dangerous."
"So, what should we do?" my father asks, and I look at Cass who was smiling at me.
"I… I want to give him a home and a shop."
"A restaurant?!" Elora basically stumbles to my father and stands near his throne. "Sir… you cannot let this happen. A home in our kingdom and a business for someone who is a wanted criminal! We cannot allow this crazy man in our streets!"
"Crazy? I'm not crazy… I think it's more like I am quirky." Cass says and then my father looks at me.
"If you can prove he can follow simple orders from you then I may consider a home for him after he does spend time in prison. A shop is completely out of the question."
"But dad… We have to give Cass some purpose. I think if we were to do that then it can show an example to others… It can also help Cass understand what it is like to be a nice person here. He has been affected by Sally the most because of the spirit that joined with him. I think it would help… And I can watch him." I say and he taps his finger on his chin.
"Let me show you." I say and I walk over to Cass who excitedly looks at me and I sigh. "Don't do anything stupid."
"I-I-I won't!" Cass says with a blush, and I look at the guards.
"Let his chains go." I say and he rises and towers over me.
"Hehehe…" Cass laughs to himself.
"Cass. Can you promise me not to harm anyone in the village? So, you can live with us. I wouldn't want you to be in prison forever but if I have to do that then I will."
"I'll do anything you ask! I could even take over Axel's spot if you want some real protection. Since I did save you! And really everyone here." Cass says and waves at the group behind me and they don't wave back.
"Say you will not hurt anyone and mean it."
Cass looks at me and he laughs and then sighs. "I will not hurt anyone."
"Okay, thank you." I say and I watch Elora shake her head angrily. "See. Now the prison sentence I can understand, but afterwards… we go with my plan."
"Fine. And depending on how you act in prison determines when we let you out." My father says and Cass groans.
"I will visit you. If you behave correctly." I say and Cass smiles again.
"Dress nice for me!" Cass says and my guards touch his arm and Cass smile dropped and he turned quick towards them. "Don't touch me."
"Cass!" I yell and I march over in front of his face. "You listen to them! If you want to enjoy life, then you have to stop being so violent!"
Cass puffs and then my guards grab him again and I could tell he was holding back. "I'm only doing this for you princess."
"Thanks." I say and they take Cass away and I turn back to my father. "Is… Is that all?"
"What are you going to say to your citizens?" My father asks and stands up and passes Elora who looks like she was going to have a break down. "Can't really expect them to be alright with who you are about to bring out."
"No… but. I think they are in Mom's situation… And I know that no one can trust me, but I want to change the world, and everyone is going to have to be ready for it too."
My father nods his head and looks around at my friends behind me. "Fire kingdom and guardians of Lera. You are temporary members of Asendel. You will either stay close by or in castle for your protection and surveillance. There will be guards where you decide to stay at but not for your protection but for the protection for others. You are not to outside passed dark and are also not allowed to leave the kingdom unless you have permission."
All my friends bow and then my dad looks back at Elora.
"Welcome them." He says and Elora steps up and she was nervous to do so.
"Welcome… to Asendel." She says and they thank her and then they look at me.
"I'm going too… take them back to the castle. Thank you for understanding father."
"Hm. I am only letting them in because what we stand for. Most of everything you said to me is untrustworthy but… if your thoughts stand true then I will start to believe you again Amelia. But for now, you have lost my trust."
"I know." I say sadly and I turn away. "Let's get back before it's too dark out."
All my friends follow me as I kept my head down and then once we walked out the same crowd was here. Yelling and chanting. Based on the people walking around me they saw how the court went.
Fire Kingdom and an unknown village are here to stay, and they were not so happy, but Axel cleared the path with some of my royal guards and we finally made it back to the castle.
"I need to shower." Knuckles broke the silence, and everyone looked at him and started to laugh. "What? I do."
"Guys." Tails stood outside the castle, and I remembered he wasn't allowed in.
"Right. I forgot that you couldn't…" I start to talk, and Tails shrugged his shoulders.
"Not the first time…" Tails says and then Cream steps up.
"You can stay with me." Cream runs up to him.
"N-no. It probably isn't safe for you to be out there with the mob and protesting." He says and Cream shrugs her shoulders.
"I don't live that far from the castle. It's on the other side and near the country area. They wouldn't bother us because my house is slightly hidden in the trees."
Tails eyes moved to mine, and I smile.
"You should stay with her. You both can watch out for each other."
Cream smiles and grabs Tails hand and starts to run off. "I'll catch up with you guys! I'm going to get him settled in before it gets too hectic again!" Cream and Tails run off and I turn to the others.
"That took a turn." Rouge says and we all stand in the entrance and talk.
"Yeah. I didn't really expect him to let us off so easy." Blaze says.
"He did but he also is putting the fault on me. Whatever happens here on out is on me… Heh, I barely even feel like a princess anyone with my father siding with the council so much." I say and I reach and take my crown off.
"They continued to bring up my mother… like she would be so angry at me but… I think I did the right thing. Maybe. And my own father doesn't trust me…" I felt like a failure, and I wiped my face before the tears fell. "Why do I still feel like such a kid?"
"Amy, you are doing your best." Rouge says and I shake my head.
"No… look at us. You all have risked so much for me because my actions. I'm sorry…" I sniff and Silver brings me in for a hug.
"Hey… you said you wanted change." Silver says and I nod my head.
"I do."
"It gets better. And once Shadow, Maria, and I leave. You are going to have to hold onto that change. The fire kingdom…. Well." Silver pushes Knuckles and Blaze closer and I look at them. "They need you the most since they don't have a home anymore."
"Thanks for the reminder." Blaze says and Silver laughs and we join him.
"I'll do my best for you all." I say and they thank me and then Knuckles clears his throat.
"So can I get some new clothes… like you all did."
"Yes, come on…" Rouge says, and Knuckles follows her through the castle and then I look at the rest.
"I'm going to blow off some steam." Blaze says and heads outside and Silver watches her.
"She might be mad that you still let Maria off the hook." Silver says and I face palm.
"Maria proved herself. There isn't much I can do anymore." I say and I look at Shadow and Maria.
"Shadow… have Maria stay in your room. She needs to shower too."
"There is no way I am letting her sleep in the same place as me." Shadow says and I frown.
"Shadow this is serious. You just agreed to king that you would watch her! So do it!" I whisper at him.
"I did that so she wouldn't get her ass thrown out. You have extra rooms around here, don't you? Shit, she can even build her own house from the earth outside." Shadow says and Maria growls.
"HEY! You are responsible for me! Just how I saved your ass then you have to save mine!" Maria stands up to Shadow was not looking at her. "Take me to your room!"
"No!" he yells back, and they cause attention.
"Fine! I have the entire castle memorized anyway and I can find your room right now!" Maria walks off and Shadow scoffs and watches her go exactly where his room was.
"Hey!" Shadow goes after her and I sigh and then Silver follows them to calm them down and then I looked at Axel who was very quiet.
"Are you alright?" I ask him as I approach him, and he nods his head.
"Maybe… no one trusts me either."
I nod my head and watch Axel point towards his room. "I'm going to go sleep. I'll catch you later."
"Okay."
Axel walks off and I am left alone in the entrance of my castle, and I start to walk down the hall myself.
"Even my actions have affected my friends. I will have to pay them back somehow."
I open the door and I walk in quietly not to disturb anyone and as I walk, I approach a room that was guarded by one of my royal guards again and I open it.
The room was warm like Tails had instructed it to be and it was dim. The sheets were tucked around him loosely and his leg was still in bandages as I looked over him afar.
It had been a moment since he had made any facial expression and I was starting to think that maybe he was just faking but… no.
I touch his face softly and I look around his body for any reaction but nothing once again so… like Tails told me.
Sometimes talking to someone can wake them up from a coma.
"Hey." I say and I look at his closed eyes. "The court date went… okay. I got everyone a place to stay so don't worry about them. But I am not trusted anymore to be the princess, so we have something else in common again." I joke but I was the only one laughing.
I look over his body and I adjust his blanket and his hair but then I stopped as I looked at his lips.
"You know… I wish you would talk to me. I really could use some advice or a stupid joke." I say and he laid still and breathed slowly.
I turn my head behind me and saw no one in his room and I carefully put my leg in the bed.
"I'm sure you wouldn't mind either…" I say and I got in his bed with him, and I laid my head on the pillow first and then I scooted closer. My lips shook and I look at his face as he didn't even react to me being so close.
"It's been a week Sonic since we heard you talk…" I say and my tears drop on his bed. "How much longer do you need? We healed all your organs… Is it because of the lack of oxygen when you got hit? Is that why you won't speak?"
Sonic still stayed still and then I moved closer and rested my face on his chest.
"Why…. Why won't you wake up?" I say and close my eyes.
…
Splash.
My head was wet, and I leaned up fast as I look around at the murky area. I blinked sometimes and I felt my hand in something else wet and I jumped up and stepped into another dirty puddle and I look at the sky.
The clouds… they were swirling, and the air was thick and humid.
"What." I say and I look around fast at the unknown quiet area and then heard something move in the behind me in a tree and I turn to it.
"I must be dreaming." I say as I walk towards the tree and then I look at my hand. "I was just… in my kingdom but now…"
I stare at the drooping and sunken trees with gigantic roots that swarmed through the forest.
I stare at the huge tree until I saw a flash of something move in the trees.
"H-Hello?"
My voice was frightened, and I walked towards the noises and then it runs past behind me, and I stopped walking.
"…" I turn around and I look for what was moving around me and saw nothing.
"How funny." Said a female voice and I turn my head and my head whips up fast as I see a huge centipede like creature in front of me and it had a face in the middle of its mouth that was protected by sharp crab like appendages.
"I thought you were not real myself."
I stare at the creature, and it blinks, and changes faces, and I watched it move around me.
"Not afraid?" it asks and moves around my body.
"Afraid?" I stutter and runs into my face.
"Yes…. You see I changed faces, right? And my body is something your mind couldn't have even imagined." It says and touches my face.
"No… I'm not afraid. Just confused… Am I dreaming?"
I ask it and it moves over to a tree and crawls up.
"Dreams? Dreams do not exist, child."
"Then… what's going on." I ask and it moves back towards me and blinks again, changing into a white face with blue paint around its eyes and red lips.
"Ugh, your confusion annoys me." It says and I watch it crawl and stretch.
"Can you tell me where I am?"
"Not home." It says and then silvers back over to me.
"Then where am I?"
"Smile for me." The monster says and I shake my head and then it sighs. "You must know about my ability to steal faces when you make an expression."
"Steal faces? How… how is that possible."
"I have stolen over millions of faces. And over millions of faces I have seen. But yours is one I want to have." It says and I noticed to keep my face normal as possible.
"How do I leave?"
"You have the key, so Koh does not open nor leave."
"Koh? Is that your name."
"Yes." Koh stares at me. "Are you connected to the fire?"
"Fire? I… What do you mean?"
"The fire that keeps you close and contact like a butterfly searching for a flower."
It was speaking riddles and I wasn't getting that far with it doing that, so I started to look around and I felt something tug at me.
Suddenly a loud yell echoed over the area I was in, and I cover my ears and then I turn my head and notice that Koh was leaving, and I turn my head back and I saw something with purple eyes. More eyes appeared and my feet started to move before I could think it.
I ran and dashed, and I turn my head to see three huge monsters chasing after me. I jumped over a root and dashed quickly as I continued to get chased and I trip over a root, and I stood up fast as I took a hard left.
The monsters snarled and growled as they ran into each other to get to me, and I trip over another branch but I water bend the water around me as one jumped on me, but I protected myself just in time.
I melt it and then I start back on foot. I turn my head and one monster was jumping tree to tree and I freak out as I try my best to get away and then it jumped right for me.
I make another hard left, barely dodging the monster and I watch it take out a tree and I continued to run.
"Shit!" I say and then I slowed down and saw a huge kingdom.
It was the fire kingdom but… just the castle. Nothing else around and the flag was waving proudly. I start to back away and I ran back into the forest to try to head the other way but that was no use. I was still being chased.
"I have to find out how to get out of here!" I say out loud, and the monster got close enough and scratched me on my arm and I fell to the ground but jumped up.
I held my bleeding arm and I turned around again, and they were right behind me.
"Oh no!" I yell but then I felt arms grab me and shield me with its body.
"Get back!"
The voice… was something I had wanted to hear in a long time.
I open my eyes and I see… him standing strong in front of me and my eyes stayed on his strong ones as he held me close and told the monster to go away. The monsters growled and ran off and once they did, he looked down to me and held my face.
"Amy… what are you doing in the spirit world?!"